More Than enough

When three-year-old German shepherd Macie started limping last summer, her owner Laura Darbyshire, 23, left, had no idea that treatment would end up costing an eye-watering £3,000.

Fortunately, Macie was covered by pet insurance with More Than, which paid for her to have a hip replacement. Ms Darbyshire, a support worker for adults with learning difficulties, said: "I only took out the insurance in March last year, after a woman I work with told me that she had had to pay £3,500 in vet's bills when her dog got leukaemia.

"She didn't have insurance and had to pay the cost herself, which I couldn't afford to do without taking out a loan. The insurance costs £9.50 a month and I have had to pay an excess of 15 per cent of the bills but it has been well worth it."

Macie's operation took place in July but she was soon up and about. Ms Darbyshire said: "Apparently, it is fairly common for German shepherds to suffer hip problems, but I didn't realise that such young dogs could be affected. However, she is definitely back to her old self now."